Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This debate has been worthwhile and influenced my thinking in a number of areas. It has re-emphasised matters for me because I am passionate about the matter of water quality.

Irish Water is required to investigate the causes of problems with water quality and must notify the EPA which has a statutory role in this respect. If there are issues relating to human health, the HSE must be consulted and remedial action taken. I will not accept the amendment because we do not need regulatory creep in this matter and it would introduce a crossover.

I understand what Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh says and appreciate where he is coming from, given his knowledge of this area. Senator Ivana Bacik has made the point that the forum will not have regulatory powers because it cannot have them - a number of State agencies already have such powers. Instead the forum can discuss policy issues in the context of ongoing performance and investigation. I will not accept the amendment, but I will take on board this discussion when sending regulations for the forum to the joint Oireachtas committee. I give Senators my word and when I give my word, I keep it. The forum regulations can ensure public concerns about the issue of water quality will be be dealt with appropriately. If people have concerns, they will be able to raise them through the forum and I will ensure this is the case by seeing that the categorisation of the work streams and people in the forum will allow for this. The forum will not have regulatory powers because that responsibility lies with different organisations, but it can reflect concerns about public health issues and how such concerns are communicated. There could be communication difficulties if Irish Water did not address concerns about water quality in an area and this would be an appropriate matter for the forum to deal with.

I will not accept the amendment, but I give my word that the regulations I will send to the joint Oireachtas committee for analysis will reflect the issues raised in the debate. The committee will give its views on the draft regulations before they are set. I aim to ensure appropriately responsible and qualified people will be part of the forum and that the concerns of the public will be properly communicated and reflected. All of this will constitute a work stream of the forum. The process the CER uses for people to join the forum will reflect this, too.